'\" t
.\"     Title: pam_timestamp
.\"    Author: [see the "AUTHOR" section]
.\" Generator: DocBook XSL Stylesheets vsnapshot <http://docbook.sf.net/>
.\"      Date: 11/22/2024
.\"    Manual: Linux-PAM Manual
.\"    Source: Linux-PAM
.\"  Language: English
.\"
.TH "PAM_TIMESTAMP" "8" "11/22/2024" "Linux\-PAM" "Linux\-PAM Manual"
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.SH "NAME"
pam_timestamp \- Authenticate using cached successful authentication attempts
.SH "SYNOPSIS"
.HP \w'\fBpam_timestamp\&.so\fR\ 'u
\fBpam_timestamp\&.so\fR [timestampdir=\fIdirectory\fR] [timestamp_timeout=\fInumber\fR] [verbose] [debug]
.SH "DESCRIPTION"
.PP
In a nutshell,
\fIpam_timestamp\fR
caches successful authentication attempts, and allows you to use a recent successful attempt as the basis for authentication\&. This is similar mechanism which is used in
\fBsudo\fR\&.
.PP
When an application opens a session using
\fIpam_timestamp\fR, a timestamp file is created in the
\fItimestampdir\fR
directory for the user\&. When an application attempts to authenticate the user, a
\fIpam_timestamp\fR
will treat a sufficiently recent timestamp file as grounds for succeeding\&.
.PP
The default encryption hash is taken from the
\fBHMAC_CRYPTO_ALGO\fR
variable from
\fI/etc/login\&.defs\fR\&.
.SH "OPTIONS"
.PP
timestampdir=directory
.RS 4
Specify an alternate directory where
\fIpam_timestamp\fR
creates timestamp files\&.
.RE
.PP
timestamp_timeout=number
.RS 4
How long should
\fIpam_timestamp\fR
treat timestamp as valid after their last modification date (in seconds)\&. Default is 300 seconds\&.
.RE
.PP
verbose
.RS 4
Attempt to inform the user when access is granted\&.
.RE
.PP
debug
.RS 4
Turns on debugging messages sent to
\fBsyslog\fR(3)\&.
.RE
.SH "MODULE TYPES PROVIDED"
.PP
The
\fBauth\fR
and
\fBsession\fR
module types are provided\&.
.SH "RETURN VALUES"
.PP
PAM_AUTH_ERR
.RS 4
The module was not able to retrieve the user name or no valid timestamp file was found\&.
.RE
.PP
PAM_SUCCESS
.RS 4
Everything was successful\&.
.RE
.PP
PAM_SESSION_ERR
.RS 4
Timestamp file could not be created or updated\&.
.RE
.SH "NOTES"
.PP
Users can get confused when they are not always asked for passwords when running a given program\&. Some users reflexively begin typing information before noticing that it is not being asked for\&.
.SH "EXAMPLES"
.sp
.if n \{\
.RS 4
.\}
.nf
auth sufficient pam_timestamp\&.so verbose
auth required   pam_unix\&.so

session required pam_unix\&.so
session optional pam_timestamp\&.so
    
.fi
.if n \{\
.RE
.\}
.SH "FILES"
.PP
/var/run/pam_timestamp/\&.\&.\&.
.RS 4
timestamp files and directories
.RE
.SH "SEE ALSO"
.PP
\fBpam_timestamp_check\fR(8),
\fBpam.conf\fR(5),
\fBpam.d\fR(5),
\fBpam\fR(8)
.SH "AUTHOR"
.PP
pam_timestamp was written by Nalin Dahyabhai\&.
